Oakland vs. Carthage

Comparable Facts

Compare Oakland University in Rochester Hills, MI with Carthage College in Kenosha, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Oakland University is larger than Carthage based on total student enrollment (15,768 students vs. 2,844 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Oakland University is located in Rochester Hills, MI (Large Suburban setting); Carthage College is in Kenosha, WI (Midsize Suburban setting).
• Oakland University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Carthage College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Oakland University 17:1; Carthage College 14:1.

Oakland vs. Carthage Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Oakland or Carthage? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Oakland University than Carthage ($12,208 vs. $27,066).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Oakland University are 18.7% lower than at Carthage College ($10,932 vs. $13,450).
• Carthage College is 153.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Oakland (about $23,488 more per year; $38,750.00 vs. $15,262.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 67.1% higher at Carthage than at Oakland University (about $15,562 more per year; $38,750.00 vs. $23,188.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Carthage College than at Oakland University (100% vs. 94%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Carthage College students is 83.1% larger than aid received by Oakland University students ($23,784 vs. $12,988).

Oakland vs. Carthage Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Oakland or Carthage? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Carthage and Oakland.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Oakland University (1130) is 30 points higher than at Carthage (1100).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Oakland University 1030/1230; Carthage College 1000/1205.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsCarthage College 19/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Oakland - Test optional; Carthage - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Oakland students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.51) than students at Carthage (3.36).
• Oakland has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than Carthage (87.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.7% at Oakland vs. 11.3% at Carthage.

Oakland vs. Carthage Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Oakland and Carthage? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Carthage College's six-year graduation rate (59%) is higher than Oakland University's (40%).
• Graduates from Carthage College earn a median of about $2,100 more per year than Oakland graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,800 vs. $46,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Oakland University graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Carthage graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Oakland graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Carthage graduates ($258 vs. $279).
• More Carthage graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Oakland students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 51%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.